There’s about one more month left in the 2018 Omaha Storm Chaser anniversary season, so let’s talk ballpark food. All I want is a bag of peanuts at the game, so, I asked Storm Chaser fans to share their food tips so you know what to try the next time you’re at Werner Park. If you have a favorite food or suggestion, leave a comment and let me know!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Omaha Storm Chasers. Any thoughts, opinions, or typos are my own.

Must-Try Food At Storm Chasers game

The most original suggestion came from Martie Cordaro, the team’s general manager and president. “Try the Brisket Egg-rolls at Sarpy Smokehouse paired with an #AleStorm beer; then the Pop Tart Ice cream sandwich at Swirls finishes the night.”

La Mesa’s stand has quite a few fans. Tiffany N. always gets La Mesa supreme nachos at the game. “Got to get the nachos at La Mesa with jalapeños. Then around the 7th inning you have to get the ice cream in a helmet.” tweeted @TheDunkKing. Megan S. tweeted “I usually go for the queso from the LaMesa stand. And a frozen strawberry lemonade.”

Another Nebraska favorite at Werner Park is Valentino’s, which has been around since 1957. Two replied on Twitter saying, “My son always has to have a slice of Valentino’s pizza and a Dippin Dots.” (@RoyalsCollector) and the other had the food and drink combo recommendation: “Cannot go wrong with some @valentinospizza and a @drpepper out by left field 👌” (@BallenB2013)

Looking to eat a somewhat healthy? I did receive one tip from a fan offering some options found at Werner Park: “Something nutritious and tasty. Burrito bowls, chicken sate, hummus dip with vegetables,” tweeted @Wanncook

Sweets at Werner Park

My kids are happiest with a bowl of Dippin Dots, and they’re not alone. When I asked about desserts, @RoyalsCollector tweeted that it was what his son always got (along with that Valentino’s slice).

“My son loves the huge pretzels and cotton candy. Best dessert I think is the funnel cakes but (my husband) says Dippin Dots,” said Tiffany N. on Facebook.

“My son loves making his own green sno-cone with the syrup machine over between 3B & LF,” said Megan S. on Twitter.

Storm Chasers Food Promotions To Know

To get the most bang for your buck, pick a game on one of these promotional nights with food deals:

50 Cent Tuesday – In honor of the 50th Season in franchise history, five different concessions items are 50 cents each at Tuesday night home games (except Aug. 7), including french fries, small sodas, nachos, peanuts & Uncle Ray’s Potato Chips.

Weiner Wednesday – Fans can enjoy full-sized hot dogs for just 25 cents each at Wednesday evening home games.

Bands & Brews – Another drink promotion…Prior to select Saturday home games, fans can enjoy drink specials and live music at the Bud Light Downdraught Bar right after gates open.

This isn’t a promotion but an annual event:

Peanut Free Night – The Storm Chasers host their annual Peanut Free Night, with a thorough cleaning of the ballpark prior to the evening’s game. No peanut products will be allowed into the park or sold for that night’s game. This year, it’s held on Aug. 1.
I’ve got more Storm Chasers fan tips here, including their suggestions on parking, getting ticket discounts and what kids can do at the ballpark.

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This summer, I took my first history tour thanks The Durham Museum. While I’m pretty familiar with Omaha’s history as explained through the museum’s exhibits, this tour was on a trolley and took us past many of the sites I’ve only read about (or wrote about). Keep reading – I’m going to share what you can expect if you take a River City History Tour.

Disclosure: I was provided complimentary tickets for a tour so I could tell you all about it. This post contains affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, making a purchase after clicking an affiliate link earns me a small payment to help me keep doing what I love best – writing. Thanks!

River City History Tours

The Durham Museum’s River City History Tours include seven different choices of tours, each exploring an interesting side of Omaha history. Beer? There’s a tour for that. Crime? There’s a tour for that.

Each tour starts and ends at The Durham Museum. There’s a tour guide well-versed in history pointing out things along the way and sharing interesting stories related to the tour topic.

Some tours include a tablet with photos from The Durham Museum Photo Archive. While some buildings are still standing, many on the Gritty City tour were not, so it was helpful to see photos of how things once were.

Guests on some tours, like ours, include are given a tablet with a photo slide show. During the tour, the guide connects the historic photos we see on the slides to places we past. It’s a fascinating way to see history as it was and then see what things look like today. Those tours are: Gritty City, On Tap!, Expositions to Jazz Musicians and The Great Escape.

What my trolley tour was like

The trolley for each River City History Tour departs and returns to The Durham Museum in downtown Omaha.

I brought Mr. Wonderful with me for a history-filled date night learning about Omaha’s seedier times in the tour Gritty City. I was hoping for some real dirt, and maybe some things connected to the crimes that happened at some of the restaurants in my book, Lost Restaurants of Omaha. Alas, this was just a taste of crime history, and more about how Omaha grew from a “rough and tumble town” to a thriving city. I think I would’ve enjoyed a tour like “Last Call for Alcohol” if I wanted to hear more about bootlegging and organized crime.

We boarded our trolley, Porkchop, and began the tour past the Old Market and then through more of the downtown area. Our tour included the tablet, which was a great idea. Our tablet was missing some of the photos the guide was talking about, so that got a little frustrating.

Tours last an hour and a half. Sunday tours start at 2 p.m. and Tuesday tours start at 6 p.m. We opted for 6 p.m. to make it a date. Of course, we’re lame and did not go out for a night cap after our tour, but the option was there.

Are the tours kid-friendly?

I wouldn’t take my kids on the tour, but I could see how teens could get something out of the trolley tour if they’re learning about some of the topics in school. There’s nothing necessarily inappropriate about the tour, though some subjects that came up on ours was prostitution and lynching. History isn’t the prettiest.

However, given the length of the tour and the subject, young kids are not going to sit well on a trolley. Plus, if your kids are anything like mine, they get SO EXCITED about trolleys, that they would surely be a distracting bundle of energy.

Remaining Omaha history tours for 2018

Unfortunately, you guys missed the bulk of the River City History Tours this summer, but they still have some that go through the fall. The remaining tours are:

The other tour that’s done for the year is On Tap! Omaha’s Brewing History. To register for a tour, go to durhammuseum.org. Tours are $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Membership discount
applies only to those in the household.

These are the kinds of tours that would make great gifts to history buffs in your life. If you have a foodie in your life, take a look at Omaha Culinary Tours.

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When the weather is hot, there is no other dessert besides ice cream. (Seriously, I asked and I was ridiculed because really, is there anything better?) We have many great options for ice cream in Omaha, but few can top the ones on this list. If you have a favorite or a recommendation that isn’t on this list, please leave a comment.

Here are some of my favorite ice cream shops in Omaha (the first four I can vouch for) and some readers tell me are top notch.

Coneflower – Coneflower is a fairly new ice cream shop in the Blackstone District that uses local ingredients and deserves all the rave review it has received. Expect a line out the door, but also expect it to be worth the wait (though, my guilty secret is going during Husker football games – no line!). 3921 Farnam St.

Ted and Wally’s – I’m pretty loyal to Ted and Wally’s, which has a location in the Old Market and in Benson. The flavors rotate regularly and some can be pretty radical combinations. I’m a traditionalist and swear by their dutch chocolate – it’s the best in the world. Yes, the world. 1120 Jackson St. and 6023 Maple St.

eCreamery – Perhaps you saw eCreamery on “Shark Tank”? Their Shark Bait ice cream is legendary, and well worth sampling, if not just getting yourself a waffle cone of it. For those always up for a challenge, eCreamery has the Dundee Challenge – eat 12 scoops of ice cream in 20 minutes. 5001 Underwood Ave.

The Durham Museum – For old-fashioned root beer floats, you’ve got to go to the soda fountain at the Durham Museum. It’s one of those Omaha experiences you just have to do. Note that it’s in a museum, so you will have to pay museum admission – might as well explore while you’re there. 801 S. 10th St.

Freezing Thai Rolled Ice Cream – For something a little different, there’s rolled ice cream. I hear the process of it being made takes the ice cream experience to a new level. 1918 S. 67th St.

Zen Coffee – Coffee shops aren’t my first choice for ice cream, either. But for a jolt of energy with your ice cream, head to Zen Coffee to get an affogato, which is typically vanilla ice cream (or gelato) and a shot of espresso. Zen Coffee uses Ted and Wally’s ice cream, so it’s delish. 230 S. 25th St., suite 3

Dairy Chef – This Elkhorn, Neb., ice cream shop continues to pop up every time I ask the question, “Where’s the best ice cream in Omaha,” so I’m beginning to suspect I need to make a trip out west to test it out. Because it continues to be recommended, I’m adding it to this list. PS, look up their Facebook page. Lately, they’ve been sharing some pictures of tasty ice cream sandwiches with homemade cookies and crumbled Reese’s Pieces. 3223 N. 204th St., Elkhorn, Neb.

Doozies – This ice cream shop in Council Bluffs, Iowa, has a following, and like Dairy Chef, always comes up when I’m talking about homemade ice cream. It also wins for its location: It’s right by Lake Manawa State Park. 321 Comanche St., Council Bluffs, Iowa

One more…

Since I wrote this, I found out about a place in Omaha serving HUGE milkshakes, and I felt that it should be mentioned (though, I can’t vouch for quality or if it’s worth the price since I haven’t been there). The Hunger Block, 11036 Elm St., is a Latin restaurant but their shakes are getting attention. They’re served in mason jars and topped with ice cream, donuts, sundae cones, cookies and more. Good luck finishing it!

A new country music series is starting in Omaha, with the goal of bringing up-and-coming singers and songwriters here. Read on to learn more about Nashville Row Omaha and get the details of the first concert in the series.

What’s Nashville Row Omaha

The creator behind Nashville Row Omaha, Troy, was inspired by trips to Nashville where there’s an incredible performer playing in some bar every night of the week. The bars mostly surround Nashville’s Music Row, home to music recording studios. Inspired by the sheer talent, Nashville Row Omaha was created to bring some of those up-and-coming stars to Omaha.

According to Nashville Row Omaha’s website: “Perhaps we just got lucky on our trips, but we ran into many performers in the bars and restaurants around the famed ‘Music Row’ that were not only incredible talents but also seemed to be performing for the pure joy of it (most feel lucky to get stage time and work for tips). We began to think of ways we could bring some of this talent to Omaha. Now we are going to do it!”

Troy told me he intends the lineup to be more female singer-songwriters or female-fronted duos, because he has a daughter, and who doesn’t want their daughter to be inspired by talented women living their dream? I love it.

Who are the artists playing Nashville Row Omaha

The first band performing is The Young Fables, who will play at The Side Room at the Ralston Arena on July 13. This talented duo consists of “American Idol” alum Laurel Wright and guitarist/vocalist Wesley Lunsford.

They have two albums under their belt, “Two” and “Old Songs,” and have appeared with performers like Lauren Alaina, Josh Turner, Sara Evans. It’s my kind of country with gifted songwriting and beautiful vocals. Things more along the lines of traditional country rather than modern country. It’s the kind of stuff that wowed me when we went to the Grand Ole Opry.

Nashville Row Omaha brings The Young Fables to Omaha on July 13, 2018.

Troy saw these The Young Fables at The Row Kitchen and Pub in Nashville, and now, he’s booked them to be the inaugural Nashville Row Omaha act.

I’ve never been to The Side Room at Ralston Arena, but it’s much intimate than an arena show, seating about 300 people. Troy said the show is going to be “a little bit cocktail party, a listening event and little bit like a game show,” in that it’s more interactive than a typical concert and they’ll have a lot of giveaways.

Want to have a say who’s next?

Nashville Row Omaha is building its email list to show performers there is a demand for them to play in Omaha, plus it’s a way to share the series’ progress and to solicit feedback on what artists who’ve played. If you want to join the community, head to nashvillerowomaha.com and sign up.

Oh My! Omaha discount on tickets

Want to see The Young Fables when they play in Omaha on July 13? Oh My! Omaha readers get $3 off tickets! Click here to buy your tickets and the discount will automatically be applied.

It’s fun to think that if you go to this show, you can say you were at the first Nashville Row Omaha show ever, and crossing fingers, we’ll see some country stars before they were country stars.

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I’ve been a fan of Billy McGuigan ever since I was reviewing theater for The Daily Nonpareil and I heard him sing the first few notes in “Rave On: The Buddy Holly Experience.” He’s gone on to perform in other great shows too, including “Rock Twist,” opening Aug. 1 at Omaha Community Playhouse. So I have this chance to ask him anything about Omaha…and my mind goes to food. Typical. I’m so glad I asked him what his favorite restaurants in Omaha were, because, you guys, McGuigan’s list is stellar.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Rave On Productions. All thoughts and opinions below are Billy’s.

Here’s Billy’s take on the Omaha food scene, in his own words:

I would never classify myself as a foodie. Let’s start there. But, after touring the country and world for the past 15 years, I started noticing that I judged a city by its local restaurants and the food in a city in general. San Francisco’s Dungeness crab, New Orleans’ crawfish and any restaurant in Albuquerque are some of my favorite spots in the U.S. Omaha is no exception and I’ve come to love the local flavor of this town. With that, I’ve put together my 10 favorite food spots in Omaha in no particular order. If you haven’t tried these places, please do!

Billy’s favorite restaurants in Omaha

I first had Stokes when it was located in the 114th and Dodge streets area. After having Sharon’s chicken enchiladas with a side of inner beauty (their off-the-menu hot sauce), I was immediately hooked. Spicy and fresh and delicious. I’ve eaten at Stokes more than any other restaurant in my life.

This place is an experience. It feels very Chicago, very New York. The drinks are finely crafted and the food is so great. The bartenders tend to remember you after a few visits and they learn the way you like your drinks made and typically how you ordered your food the last time you where there. Bonus party room upstairs for private parties as well!

Billy McGuigan and his kids in front of Early Bird, a favorite brunch spot for his family. Photo courtesy Billy McGuigan

My kids would kill me if this all-day brunch place wasn’t included on this list. It opened last year and I think we’ve been here six times already. Be prepared for a wait because this place is super popular. It is totally worth it. A unique brunch menu filled with both traditional and non-traditional breakfast items (check out the Ka-Bob’s) as well as sweet and savory. The service is also fantastic!

I’m a complete and total sucker for Mexican food. My grandmother was a Garcia and she made borracho beans so good they could make you cry. Mula makes these and after the wave of nostalgia I got from eating them here, I choked up a bit. A massive tequila selection and a varied selection of unique tacos and tortas.

The first time I came here, I nearly didn’t go in because there was such a long line. The guy in the back of the line looked at me and told me it was well worth the wait. I couldn’t agree more. If you’re under the impression that vegan food has no flavor, you should go vegan here. I love this place so much!

Sushi at Yoshimoto is as good as the best Billy McGuigan has tried across the U.S. Photo courtesy Yoshimoto

I’ve been a huge sushi fan since the late ‘90s when I had it for the first time at Sushi Ichiban when it was on the corner on Dodge street. Since then, I’ve been lucky enough to try it all over the country and Yoshitomo is as good as any I’ve ever had. Super classy environment and a menu that rocks!

Pitch manages to make pizza without cheese so good, you don’t miss the cheese. Photo courtesy Billy McGuigan

Full disclosure: I have a dairy allergy. I know, pizza with no cheese? Yeah, it’s hard to find. Pitch’s pizza is so good, it works without the cheese. Try it! Also, those Brussel sprouts. Have you not had these? They are ridiculously good.

Speaking of no dairy, do you have any idea how hard it is to find really good, dairy-free ice cream? Look no further. This place is an absolute gem. There’s nearly always a line, but again, totally worth it. The vinyl records and great taste in music also add to the ambiance of this wickedly good ice cream shop!

McGuigan’s choice for a place to hang out with friends and enjoy a good cocktail. Photo courtesy Billy McGuigan

“Friends” had Central Perk. “How I Met Your Mother” had McLarens. You know, the iconic place to hang out with friends and have a drink or two. I always wanted one of these and I’m pretty sure I’ve found it in the RL. Limited snack items and amazing craft cocktails. Amazing “Mad Men”-esque decor with iconic black and white photos throughout. If you find Roald Dahl, you’ll find me.

You ever hope and dream there’d be a place you could wake up and walk to and grab a great coffee and a sandwich? Farine and Four is this place for me. Nestled in the heart of my neighborhood is this gem. Farine + Four means Flour + Oven in French. It also means they only use four ingredients as the base for all of their breads: flour, water, salt, and levain (yeast). It’s so amazingly good and you have to try it. They open the garage door in the summer and you won’t be able to resist the smells coming from their kitchen.

Billy McGuigan’s “Rock Twist”

If you didn’t know Billy McGuigan before this post, you’ve got to hear the music of this foodie-that’s-not-a-foodie. You can see him in the show, “Rock Twist,” which will be at Omaha Community Playhouse Aug. 1-12.

The show features McGuigan and a 13-piece band performing the music of artists who have impacted McGuigan’s life. There’s everything from Frank Sinatra to The Doors and Chuck Berry.

Performances of “Rock Twist” are Aug. 1-12, Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $42 each and are available at by calling the box office at 402-552-0800 or go online to www.omahaplayhouse.com.

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Summer is a great time to get outdoors as a family, and while I have my favorite go-to spots (like these nearby hikes), I love finding new things to do. One of the best resources I’ve come across is the list of the 2018 Cub Scouts’ outdoor activities that are open to families In Omaha and in areas just outside the metro. These summer activities aren’t only for Scouts and their families – you don’t have to have a Cub Scout in your family to attend. These activities are open to EVERYONE.

Fishing derbies are held throughout the summer and offer a free chance to try out fishing as a family. Photo courtesy Boy Scouts of America Mid-America Council

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Boys Scouts of America Mid-America Council. All thoughts, opinions and typos are my own.

This summer is all about finding ways to Get Out and Scout. My family has only dabbled in Scouting, and I think all of these events are a great way for my family (and yours) to learn more about Scouting and have a ton of fun. Girls are definitely welcomed to participate, because now they can become Cub Scouts.

And the best part of all the events below? A lot of them are FREE!

If you see an event that interests you, visit the Cub Scouts calendar for more details or to register.

Complete list of 2018 Summer Programs

Cub Scouts is a program for boys and girls grades K-5 to experience the outdoors together as a family. The following programs take place in Omaha unless otherwise noted. You may find Scouts from your school at these activities, but know that you are welcome to join in the fun as a guest.

Storm Chasers Overnighter

When: June 22-23

Where: Werner Park in Papillion, Neb.

What: The Omaha Storm Chasers are excitement enough – but we celebrate the game all night long by camping out on the baseball field and watching movies on the mega-tron!

Cost: $19

Carter Lake Fishing Day

When: June 28, 4 to 8 p.m.

Where: Carter Lake in Carter Lake, Iowa

What: Grab your pole (or use one of the provided poles) and join us for a relaxing evening of catch and release!

Hi there, I’m Kim

I'm a mom, wife, writer & coffee addict. I love my hometown, Omaha, but cannot resist the thrill of travel. Life is best spent discovering the extraordinary at home and on the road. With any luck, I'll inspire you to think the same. Inquiries at ohmyomaha@gmail.com

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